Ellis, who lives in the Milwaukee area during the offseason, had about a 30-mile drive to the hospital and was informed by his wife shortly into that trek that they wouldn’t make it in time.

Los Angeles Dodgers catcher A.J. Ellis' wife gave birth to the couple's third child while he tried to rush her to a local hospital. (AP Photo)

“I’m thinking, this is 2012, not the 'Oregon Trail.' Of course we’re gonna make it,” Ellis told the website. “So I’m calmly telling her we’re making it. I figured she was just panicking because she was in excruciating pain.”

She wasn’t, and Audrey Ellis was born soon after on that morning of Oct. 21.

After Audrey was born, A.J. Ellis drove the remaining 18 miles to the hospital because it was the closest one.

Making the story even more memorable: Ellis had borrowed his in-laws’ car because he had recently had knee surgery and needed more legroom.

“The in-laws took it to a car wash to be cleaned,” Ellis told ESPN.com. “The vehicle has since reacquired that new car smell.”